Method and apparatus for repositioning a percutaneous probe

Abstract

An apparatus for piercing a skin surface, and methods for operating and manufacturing such an apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a support housing having an engaging surface to engage the skin surface. The support housing can include a first guide extending axially away from the engaging surface and a second guide extending transverse to the first guide. The apparatus can further include a probe coupled to a guide member with the guide member sequentially engaged with the first guide and the second guide to move in a first direction toward and away from the engaging surface without simultaneously moving in a second direction transverse to the first direction. Accordingly, a practitioner can reposition the probe from one location to the other (for example, by orbiting the probe relative to a central axis of the support body, or by translating the probe linearly relative to the support body) without moving the housing relative to the skin surface.

1. An apparatus for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing extending in an axial direction and having an engaging surface positioned to engage the recipient and defining a central first axis; and 
 a probe movably received within the housing, the probe having a passageway and an end shaped to pierce the recipient's skin, the end having an aperture in fluid communication with the passageway, the probe being movable in the axial direction along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, and between a first position in which the end is received within the housing and a second position in which the end is external to the housing. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the probe includes a drug delivery needle. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the probe includes a liquid extraction needle. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the aperture is a first aperture and the end is a first end, and wherein the probe further includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second aperture in fluid communication with the passageway and coupleable to a fluid reservoir. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the end includes a sharp point. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider movably disposed within the housing, the slider being coupled to the probe to move the probe from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a slider movably disposed within the housing, the slider being coupled to the probe to move the probe from the first position to the second position; and 
 an actuator having a plunger to engage the slider, the actuator moving the slider in the axial direction. 
 
   
   
     8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing further includes a receiving portion projecting away from the engaging surface, the receiving portion having a cavity, the apparatus further comprising:
 a slider movably disposed within the cavity, the slider being coupled to the probe to move the probe from the first position to the second position. 
 
   
   
     9. An apparatus for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted on the recipient, the housing defining a central first axis; 
 a probe movably disposed within the housing, the probe defining a second axis parallel to the first axis, and the probe having a passageway and an end shaped to pierce the recipient's skin, the probe being configured for insertion into the recipient to transfer a flowable substance to and/or from the recipient; and 
 an actuator for moving the probe from a stowed position with the end positioned within the housing to a deployed position with the end positioned outside the housing. 
 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the probe includes a drug delivery needle. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the probe includes a liquid extraction needle. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the end is a distal end, and wherein the probe further includes a proximal end opposite the distal end, the proximal and distal ends being in fluid communication with the passageway, the proximal end being coupleable to a fluid reservoir. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the end includes a sharp point. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a slider movably disposed within the housing, the slider being coupled to the probe and configured to be engaged by the actuator to move the probe from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
   
     15. An apparatus for piercing a skin surface, comprising:
 a support housing having a casing defining an axial direction and an engaging surface to engage the skin surface at one end of the casing, and the support housing defining a central first axis; and 
 a probe movably supported relative to the support housing and moveable relative to the support housing in an axial direction along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, and toward and away from the engaging surface between a first position a first distance from the engaging surface and a second position a second distance from the engaging surface greater than the first distance. 
 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the probe includes a drug delivery needle. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the probe includes a liquid extraction needle. 
   
   
     18. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the probe includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a passageway extending between the first and second ends, the second end being coupleable to a fluid reservoir. 
   
   
     19. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the probe includes a sharp point configured to pierce the skin of the recipient. 
   
   
     20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a slider movably disposed within the support housing, the slider being coupled to the probe to move the probe between the first position and the second position. 
   
   
     21. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a slider movably disposed within the support housing, the slider being coupled to the probe to move the probe between the first position and the second position; and 
 an actuator having a plunger to engage the slider, the actuator moving the slider in the axial direction. 
 
   
   
     22. An apparatus for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the apparatus comprising:
 a base including an engagement surface and a cavity extending along a first axis transverse to the engagement surface, the engagement surface being positioned to engage a skin of the recipient; 
 a slider movably disposed within the cavity, the slider having a probe aperture; 
 a probe positioned within the probe aperture of the slider and projecting away from the slider along a second axis at least generally parallel to the first axis, the probe having a passageway and an end shaped to pierce the recipient's skin, the probe being coupleable to a flowable substance reservoir; and 
 a plunger elongated along the first axis and having an engagement member to move the slider axially along the first axis from a first position with the end of the probe received within the base to a second position with the end of the probe external to the base. 
 
   
   
     23. The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the probe includes a drug delivery needle. 
   
   
     24. The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the probe includes a liquid extraction needle. 
   
   
     25. The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the end includes a sharp point. 
   
   
     26. A method for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the method comprising:
 positioning at least proximate to the recipient a housing and a probe movably disposed within the housing; 
 rotating a slider supporting the probe about a central axis of the housing to move the probe within the housing; 
 inserting a portion of the probe into the recipient by moving the portion of the probe out of the housing; and 
 passing a flowable substance through the probe. 
 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 26  wherein positioning the housing includes releaseably adhering the housing to the recipient. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 withdrawing the probe from the recipient; and 
 removing the housing from the recipient after withdrawing the probe from the recipient. 
 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 26  wherein passing the flowable substance includes extracting the flowable substance from the recipient. 
   
   
     30. The method of  claim 26  wherein passing the flowable substance includes delivering the flowable substance to the recipient from a reservoir. 
   
   
     31. The method of  claim 26  wherein the probe has an end shaped to pierce the recipient's skin, and wherein inserting the probe into the recipient includes moving the probe from a stowed position with the end disposed within the housing to a deployed position with the end external to the housing. 
   
   
     32. The method of  claim 26  wherein the housing has a first axis, and wherein inserting the probe includes moving the probe along a second axis at least generally parallel to the first axis. 
   
   
     33. A method for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the method comprising:
 mounting a housing carrying a probe to the recipient; 
 inserting a portion of the probe into the recipient after coupling the housing to the recipient by moving the probe along an axis at least generally parallel to an axis of the housing; 
 passing a flowable substance through the probe; 
 withdrawing the probe from the recipient; and 
 removing the housing from the recipient after withdrawing the probe from the recipient. 
 
   
   
     34. The method of  claim 33  wherein mounting the housing includes releaseably adhering the housing to the recipient. 
   
   
     35. The method of  claim 33  wherein passing the flowable substance includes extracting the flowable substance from the recipient. 
   
   
     36. The method of  claim 33  wherein passing the flowable substance includes delivering the flowable substance to the recipient from a reservoir. 
   
   
     37. The method of  claim 33  wherein the probe has an end shaped to pierce the recipient's skin, and wherein inserting the probe into the recipient includes moving the probe from a stowed position with the end disposed within the housing to a deployed position with the end external to the housing. 
   
   
     38. A method for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the method comprising:
 positioning at least proximate to the recipient a housing having a probe movably disposed within the housing, the probe having a sharp end, the sharp end of the probe being positioned within the housing; 
 rotating a slider supporting the probe about a central axis of the housing to move the probe within the housing; 
 deploying the probe and inserting the sharp end into the recipient; and 
 passing a flowable substance through the probe. 
 
   
   
     39. The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 withdrawing the probe from the recipient; and 
 removing the housing from the recipient after withdrawing the probe from the recipient. 
 
   
   
     40. The method of  claim 38  wherein passing the flowable substance includes extracting the flowable substance from the recipient. 
   
   
     41. The method of  claim 38  wherein passing the flowable substance includes delivering the flowable substance to the recipient from a reservoir. 
   
   
     42. The method of  claim 38  wherein the housing has a first axis, and wherein deploying the probe includes moving the probe along a second axis at least generally parallel to the first axis. 
   
   
     43. A method for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the method comprising:
 positioning at least proximate to the recipient a housing and a probe movably disposed within the housing, the housing including a first axis; and 
 inserting a portion of the probe into the recipient by moving the portion of the probe out of the housing along a second axis at least generally parallel to the first axis; 
 passing a flowable substance through the probe. 
 
   
   
     44. A method for percutaneously transferring a flowable substance to and/or from a recipient, the method comprising:
 mounting a housing carrying a probe to the recipient, the housing including a first axis; 
 inserting a portion of the probe into the recipient after coupling the housing to the recipient; 
 moving the probe along a second axis at least generally parallel to the first axis; 
 passing a flowable substance through the probe; 
 withdrawing the probe from the recipient; and 
 removing the housing from the recipient after withdrawing the probe from the recipient.